Steering-gear for children&#39;s pedaled vehicles.



PATENTED OCT. 24-, 1905.

G. H. BARSGHOW.

STEERING GEAR FOR CHILDREN'S PEDALED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

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No. 802,548. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. G. H. BARSGHOW. STEERING GEAR FOR GHILDRENS PEDALED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 26, 1904.

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GEORGE H. BARSOHOVV, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASQIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN METAL WHEEL & TOY CO., OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

STEERlNC-DWGIEAH FOR Cl-tllLDWl-Eldffi l lEU ttlElZ viii-HOLES Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24:, 1905.

Application tiled September 26, 1904:. erial No, 225,924.

childrens pedaled vehicles, and has for its object to provide a simple, d urablc, inexpensive, and efficient mechanism for the purpose that is readily and conveniently operated by a child. T accomplish these objects by constructing a steering-gear adapted to be attached to the body and running-gear of a childs pedalcd vehicle, as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective side view of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a similar front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my invention attached to a body.

lie the drawings, 1 is a front axle of avehicle, upon which is mounted a truss-bolster 2, formed of the trussstra1i s 3, the connectingstrap a, angled U shape, and the bridgebar 5. The truss-straps 3 each have outer and inner end portions 6 and 7 of unequal length, bent parallel with each other, and at equal distances from their free ends these end portions have transverse orifices 8 in alinement, by which the bars 3 are mounted on the axle. The legs of the U-shaped strap 4: embrace and are riveted to the outer sides of the end portions 7, the legs being provided with orifices registering with the axle-orifices 8 of the end portions 7. The bridge-bar 5 is disposed over the U- shapcd strap with its end portions resting and riveted to the top sides of the strap-bars 3, which slope downward therefrom to the end portions 6 of the bars 3, the end portions 7 of the bars 3, the U-shaped strap et, and the bridge-bar 5, forming, as connected, a central rectangular frame fromwhich the truss-straps 3 extend. in opposite directions to their end portions 6, which form shoulders at the inner ends of the journal portions l" of the axle 1.

The bridge-bar 5 has its central portion widened in disk form to provide a bearing 9, central of which and rigidly secured thereto is the king-pin 10, by which the bolster 2 of the axle 1 is pivoted to the inverted tripod 11, which supports the front end of the body of the vehicle. The tripod 11 is composed of the strap-bar 12, having the legs 13 equally angled outwardly from a central bearing portion 141:, which is provided with a central orifice to receive the king-pin 10, and the leg 15, angled from a bearing portion 16, having a cen tral orilice ada 'iting it to be mounted on the pin over the bearing portion 1st, midway between the legs 13, with the leg 15 extending upward and rearward at the same angle as the legs 13. The free end of the pin 10 has a suitable rivet-head formed thereon, by which the truss-bolster is prevented from beemning detached from the tripod. The legs and 15 have their upper end portions angled outward in the same plane parallel with the plane of their hearing portions to form the feet 17, each perforated for the attachment of the tripod by screws to the bottom of a vehicle-body. (Not shown.)

To the truss-straps of the bolster 2 are pivoted the link-bars 18, one near each end of the bridge-bar 5, which extend rearward and slightly inclined downward a suitable distance, and at their rear ends the link bars or rods are pivoted to opposite ends of a connecting-bar 19, and central between the pivoted attachments of the link-bars the bar 19 is provided with a fixed stem or red 20, which extends upward a suitable distance through and above the body-base at a suitable rearward inclination, and upon the upper end of the stem is iixed a stcering-wheel 21 for turning the stem.

The wheel-stem 20, with its connecting-bar 19, and the rear ends of the link-bars, are supported from the body of the vehicle by the strap-bar 252, having the legs 2-3 diverging at suitable equal angles from a central bearing portion 24:, which is provided with a central orilice 25, through which extends the stem 20, on which is mounted the washer 26 above the bearing portion 2 1, upon which it rests, and above the washer the stem is provided with a dian'ietric oriiice through which is inserted a suitable cotter-pin 27, the ends of which rest upon the washer and with the washer forms a rotatable support for the stem on the bearing .24. The legs 23 have portions 23 of their upper ends suitably angled and perforated for attachment to the bottom of the body of a vehicle transversely thereof, and thus attached by partially rotating the stem in either direction by the wheel 21 one of the link-bars 18 is pushed forward and the other drawn an equal distance rearward by the connecting-bar 19, thereby turning the bolster 2 of the front axle l on its pivot-pin l0 and changing the angle of the-axleto the body of the vehicle and the direction of the front wheels.

Preferably the steeringgear described is also provided with a link-bar 28, which is suitably pivoted at one end centrally to the body portion 29 of the U-shaped strap 4 of the bolster and at the opposite end to the stem 20 between the connecting-bar 19 and the bearing portion 24: of the strap-support 22. Said link-bar 28, by reason of its pivoted attachment to the stem and to the bolster in line with the king-pin, forms a brace between the axle and the support 22, which prevents any leverage strain of the axle on the king-pin 10 (which it would otherwise be sul ject to by reason of the location of the axle at a distance below the bolster-bearing) without in any degree effecting the free pivotal movement of the link-bars 18, the bolster 2, and the stem 20.

While a wheel is preferably used as a means of rotating the stem, it is apparent that any suitable lever or cross-handle may be substituted for the wheel.

A steering-gear constructed in accordance with my invention as described is strong and durable and easily and conveniently operated, its parts are readily formed and assembled, and in complete form the whole is inexpensively and readily attached to vehicle-bodies of various construction. It is especially adapted for use on that class of childrens vehicles which are propelled by pedals adapted to revolve the rear wheels.

WVhat I claim to be new is 1. In a steering-gear for pedaled vehicles, the combination with a body-support adapted to be secured to a vehicle-body, and havin a centrally-disposed bearing, of a trussboIster pivoted centrally of its length to the bearing of the support, said truss-bolster comprising a central rectangular frame adapted at its top as a bearing for the support and lateral truss-bars extending oppositely and diverging downwardly at equal angles from the top portion of the central frame, said truss-bars having end portions angled downward parallel with the sides of the central frame, an axle secured lengthwise of the bolster through the end portions of the trussbars and through the sides of the central frame, said axle having end journals for wheels projecting beyond the end portions of the truss-bars, link-bars pivotally connected to the bolster, one on each side of its pivoted connection to the body-support, and extended rearward therefrom, a steering-bar pivotally connected at its ends to the rearward ends of the link-bars, an upward and rearwardly inclined stem having its lower end fixed centrally of and to the steering-bar, means to rotatably support the stem from and extending upward through the body, and means secured to the upper end of the stem for rotating the stem in its support, substantially as set forth.

2. In a steering-gear for pedaled vehicles, the combination with a body-support adapted to be secured to a vehiclebody, and l1aving a centrally-disposed bearing, of a truss bolster pivoted centrally of its length to the bearing of the support, said truss-bolster comprising a central rectangular frame adapted at its top as a bearing for the support and lateral truss-bars extending oppositely and diverging downwardly at equal angles from the top portion of the central frame, said truss-bars having end portions angled downward parallel with the sides of the central frame, an axle secured lengthwise of the bolster through the end portions of the trussbars and through the sides of the central frame, said axle having end ournals for wheels projecting beyond the end portions of the truss-b ars, link-bars pivo tally connected to the bolster, one on each side of its pivoted connection to the body-support, and ex tended rearward therefrom, a steering-bar pivotally connected at its ends to the rearward ends of the link-bars, an upward and rearwardly inclined stem having its lower end fixed centrally of and to the steering-bar, means to rotatably support the stem from and extending upward through the body, means secured to the upper end of the stem for rotating the stem in its support, and a link brace-bar pivotally connected at one end to the bottom portion of the central frame of the bolster in line with the pivoted connection of the top bearing portion with the bearing of the body-support, and to the steering-stem at the opposite end, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of September, 1904.

GEORGE I'I. BARSCHOIV.

IVitnesses:

LAURA S. YoUNGs, D. W. Moon. 

